07/06/2019 (Agence Europe) – The Commission considered that the new communication of the Swiss Federal Council on the Institutional Framework Agreement represented at this stage "a generally positive development". On Friday 7 June, Berne announced, after several months of extensive consultation with its economic, trade union and political stakeholders, that it favourably considered the draft Institutional Framework Agreement, thus signalling an openness to initial it. But the government has asked for clarifications, in particular on State aid and measures to protect the wages of Swiss workers (accompanying measures). The Federal Council has sent a letter to this effect to the Commission, which will analyse it and respond promptly. The fate of the stock exchange equivalence for Switzerland, which expires at the end of June, depends in particular on this favourable climate between the two parties. EU Member States are expected to react as early as 11 June. (SP)